[Linux-cluster] /bin/login hangs on NFS troubles

From: Alexander Spanke <aspanke hpce nec com>

To: linux-cluster redhat com

Subject: [Linux-cluster] /bin/login hangs on NFS troubles

Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 19:18:06 +0200

Hi all,

we have a problem with the configuration of a linux cluster based on RH
ES3 WS. The cluster contains 230+ nodes; these nodes are sharing
/usr/local/bin over NFS due to shared scripts for health checking.

Now, if we encounter NFS problems, the login process is hanging non-stop
until the NFS connection is back again.
After checking all startup scripts and $PATH definitions we found out,
that the /bin/login binary itself is pre-defining the $PATH hardwired
with /usr/local/bin in the beginning.

Unfortunately we cannot change the /usr/local/bin down to the local disk
again, but need a solution to be able to login even or especially with
NFS problems to start investigation.

Do you have any nice idea, how to get rid of this problem ? Changing the
binary and rebuild the package is one, but we don't like it because of
missing update possibility after it ...